Where will YOUR Food come From?

This sad little article I noted recently, is a sign of the times. Just one in another long line of food processors leaving this province. It begs the question; just where ARE they going TO?

CanGro to close; Local peach growers to make tough decisions
Posted By BOB BOUGHNER
Posted 5 days ago

The imminent closure of a fruit processing plant in St. Davids will leave nearly a dozen Chatham-Kent farmers without a market for their peaches and pears.

"It will leave me with little choice but to rip out my 17 acres of processing peach trees," veteran Cedar Springs farmer John McGuigan said Friday.

The owner of McGuigan Orchards said growers were informed a few weeks ago that the CanGro Fruit Canning Plant in St. Davids, near St. Catharines, will close March 31.

Both the company's St. Davids facility and another in Exeter are scheduled for closure unless a buyer is found. "That's highly unlikely," said McGuigan. "It's cheaper for processors to import peaches from China and Greece than it is to grow them here."

McGuigan said the plant closure would remove any market for clingstone peaches or peaches grown specifically for the processing industry. (more...)

It amazes me that a company one would hope is looking towards its future growth, etc., would make such a stupid move. Have they not been listening to Ontario consumers? Even our mainstream media have noticed something may be wrong with the food system. In a time when consumers are clamoring for "local" products it is insane, that Ontario's only remaining peach processing plants should be closing!!!

I don't want to purchase canned peaches from some other country!!! If the big food retailers in Ontario can't supply me with Ontario canned peaches, I may have to dust off the canning jars. I can guaranty a lot of other people will be trying to do the same thing too.

Are our local food supplys secure? If all the major food chains go looking for a 'local' supply, I am convinced that many people will be shocked at the state of affairs out there.

Any sovereign state/county/province wanting to safeguard it's citizens, MUST look at these situations in a different way than in the past.

Maybe it is time our provincial government started to take a hard look at what is going on out there.

Storm clouds gather again!

Well, I guess we all have our answer about what the current federal government's next move would be , after the courts over-ruled their actions against the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB).

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TABLES AMENDMENTS TO THE CANADIAN WHEAT BOARD ACT TO ENSURE BARLEY MARKETING FREEDOM

OTTAWA, Ontario, March 3, 2008

The Government of Canada today introduced amendments to the Canadian Wheat Board Act that would clear the way for barley marketing freedom and introduce a requirement respecting commercial dispute resolution. The announcement was made by the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board. (more)

The continued soap opera from Ottawa has hit a new low. The issue of this legislation coming to Parliament puts to rest the fairy tale that they might just be putting on a show for their constituents over election promises.

They obviously will go to just about any lengths to get what they want. Oh, and if they make this one a non confidence motion everyone on the good guy's side will have some very hard thinking to do. When I suggested this scenario in an earlier post, I NEVER believed it could come to this.

Is it time NOW for the opposition to put this government out of it's misery? Because of course, if the legislation passes, the death throws of the Wheat Board struggle will be next.

I don't think agriculture can let that happen. Farm organizations and their allies better think about this one very, very hard. There are very few options left out there for agriculture and it would be a mistake of enormous proportions to let others destroy something that has worked so well for so long.

Just how many political friends does agriculture have left and does it even have the guts to take this one to the wall?

Somebody must really have a lot to gain on this one. My vote is for the big guns ADM and Cargill.

For a minority government to continue to flaunt it's disregard for the courts, the industry, the economy and what producers' want, reminds you of an arrogant bully, who is so convinced he is 'right' , he will do anything, anything, to get his way.

Because, of course, the rest of us are too stupid to really know what is good for us.

Meanwhile, Canada's wiggle room to salvage anybody or save anything has craftily and carefully been removed.

PM gradually 'tightening the screws' on gov't: ex-advisor
By Alexander Panetta, THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA - Perhaps the most significant act of the Harper government is being conducted so slowly, steadily, and silently that it has raised barely a whisper of public debate. (more)

I think I feel a very cold, cold wind blowing over us all. - CG

Free Trade Fiasco

The Free Trade mantra, espoused by governments, policy makers, agri-businesses and foolish farmers is a failing model. The sooner all come to realise this, the better.

In the current climate of the failing American economy (the sub-prime mess), with the climbing euro and off-set by the devalued US dollar, strange things are happening out there. Canada is not the only country affected by this state of affairs.

The most recent hardly believable announcement is from Germany's BMW company.

BMW plans to increase US production while cutting workers in Germany

Published: Monday, March 10, 2008 4:46 AM ET
Canadian Press: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBIA, South Carolina - BMW says it will cut 7.5 per cent of its work force in Germany over two years while increasing production in the U.S. by more than 50 per cent by 2012.

"This is completely driven by the plunge in the dollar," said Greg Gardner with Oliver Wyman, publisher of the Harbour Report on automotive manufacturing activity. "It is untenable to produce at a much higher cost in Germany.".... (see full article)


Who would have thought, even 18 months ago, that things like this would come to pass. A lot of us are familiar with the sight of plant closures and lost jobs, because for years, north American jobs have moved from Canada and the US to : Mexico, India, China and any other country that had a cheap workforce and could show the mega companies more profit.

The same sort of silliness had been happening to our food processing sector (The Smithville Hershy's plant is a good example).

Bizarre as it seems, the United States, with it's incredibly weak dollar, is now as good as any third world country, for plants to locate in.

Now I say that with tongue in cheek, because of course until recently, we had that fortunate or unfortunate position, depending on your industry and point of view.

There were also some voices in the wilderness that warned a low dollar (for whatever reason) was NOT a reliable strategy for survival in the long term. It places an indirect 'cost' out there to someone, somewhere, and that is a shaky building for any economy. Indeed, at one time the United States was accusing China of having pegged its currency artificially low and where threatening to have the IMF (International Monetary Fund) intervene.

If we stay locked into this ridiculous cycle of boom and bust, that allows companies to close and open plants anywhere in the world they can see an edge, no one will ever win. Sooner or later affected countries will slip into some similar cycle of economic down term (caused by the job losses,etc.) that has plants and companies coming back, only to see the same cycle for other countries affected by the new job losses.

Another way to look at things is to consider that jobs are being stolen from one country by the next and as each new country reaches some pinnacle of high currencyand strong economy, jobs leave, pushing said country over the edge.

Is this any way to run a world economy?

Surprise ... surprise!!!!

I just received my monthly Macleans for March 2008. Now, I have been hard on Macleans on occasion, because, frankly, some of the articles deserved to be left unwritten, as they were so unbalanced and biased, it was a dis-service to all, including their urban audience, that they ever saw the light of day.

This month is a surprise, though and not a bad thing in my mind at all. Front and centre on the cover:

Rampant demand. Sudden shortages. Riots over prices. The world food crisis is starting to hit home.

YOUR GROCERY BILL IS ABOUT TO HURT

The article is written by Charlie Gillis and is a very in depth and thoughtful look into a number of issues. I'll leave it to you to decide on the level of importance you can attach to them. One very big surprise is the credit Gillis gives to the National Farmers Union. The Union did write to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and for that they should get major kudos. It was a piece of far sightedness we all could use.

Gillis also goes into some surprising statistics that our own farmers and farm organizations should be looking at and thinking about. Earlier this week reports from some interesting sources (prisonplanet.com) were speculating on similar announcements from the FAO. I am a bit surprised that the Macleans article even saw the light of day.

As well, this week CTV's Pat Foran reported at length about the increasing cost of wheat for pasta, although he used the term, food inflation.

As a consumer and parent the issues can be chilling. How many can grow their own food? What about preserving it yourself? If we are in fact, teetering on the edge ........ what is our own government doing to protect our people from such possible, frightening outcomes?

Many of us in agriculture are aware of the history around farming and food production. Society as a whole is not. It was only the efficiency and productiveness on the nations farms that freed society to pursue other avenues of wealth and built the societies we have to-day.

I hope you all take a long hard look at the article and use this profile to urge our government to take real Food Sovereignty very seriously. Perhaps you will have willing voices to help spread the word.-CG

Canadain Wheat Board Wins ..... NOW What!!!

Consider the latest headlines about the Canadian government's blatant campaign to flout parliament and destroy farmer's bargaining power in these recent headlines:

Conservatives lose court battle over wheat board, showdown in Parliament looming

or

Battle over barley resumes

or

RULING CONFIRMS FARMERS’ RIGHT TO DETERMINE CWB FUTURE the National Farmers Union Press Release

or

MPs say time for feds to abandon barley campaign from CTV news .

So just what is propelling, compelling the government to push so hard to destroy farmer's marketing power? Free trade dogma or just the Alberta connection? Regardless, it is making them look a little ridiculous as they announce their latest salvo in response to the news above:

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON COURT DECISION ON MARKETING CHOICE FOR BARLEY

OTTAWA, Ontario, February 26 2008

The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today issued the following statement in response to a Federal Court of Appeal decision on the Government of Canada's appeal of the Federal Court ruling which maintained that the Canadian Wheat Board Regulations must be changed through legislation.

"I am disappointed with the decision of the Federal Court of Appeal. We will carefully review the decision and decide on our next steps accordingly. "

This Government understands that farmers work hard to grow the grain they sell and they should get the best price possible for that work. As a matter of fact, over 62 per cent of Western Canadian farmers voted in support of barley marketing freedom last year.

We are committed to providing the marketing choice Western Canada's grain producers have demanded and deserve. Producers need market certainty and we will continue working to provide it to them.

This Government is committed to pursuing all avenues to deliver market freedom to Western barley producers. We will be moving ahead quickly with legislation to give them this freedom.

1-866-345-7972
613-759-1059

The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz

So, is it possible the next battle will be in the legislature? If so, farmers and supporters of collective marketing had better sharpen their swords.-CG

Don't they have Better Things To DO??

I am completely fed up with the high jinks from the current 'new government' . Among a list of stupidities they have gone after the Canadian Wheat Board again. At least it appears that way.

This past weeks offerings include:

Opposition parties see interference in firing of agency official

Wheat Board fires official who criticized government

PM makes 'em gag-Harperites muzzle opposition beyond Parliament Hill


WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Ian White, a veteran of Australia's grain trade, will become the next head of the Canadian Wheat Board, one of the world's largest grain exporters, Canada's agriculture minister said on Wednesday.

I also found this article published last fall in the Western Dairy Farmer by Wendy R. Holm called 'Beware a Conservative Majority'. It is an issue dairy farmers need to monitor closely.

And if the PM has his way it looks like we will be forced into an election by hook or by crook. If it isn't Afghanistan ... they will make sure it's the Crime Bill or the Budget or...........-CG

The Silence is Deafening!!!

One reader recently asked the question: "Which consumer groups would best represent the feelings of the consumer?"

So I decided that, I would do a little bit of research into our consumer associations, to see what popped up. Imagine my surprise when on the main page of the Consumers Association of Canada, I found a ridiculous article slamming the "extra fat" one may find in cheese once the new regulations come into force. This title may give you a clue: Federal Government Moves to Fatten up Canadians

It seems to me they should be far more concerned about the 'source' of Canadian food, the complete irrelavence of the "Product of Canada" label, the need for Canadians to retain their food producers and their processors (Did we learn nothing from BSE?) , among a few of the pressing issues about food that consumers want answers for.

Instead the CAC spent their time slamming Canadian dairy farmers for demanding regulations that will ensure the quality and components in cheese manufactured or shipped into this country. This means the label on cheese will actually mean something to consumers and that cheese that says it's cheese will taste like cheese and cook like cheese. How can that be a bad thing?

I don't think they are in much of a position to give us any help. Consumer associations do not seem interested in rounding out the public education at all. They are more likely to be attacking agriculture.

The whole issue of new regulations for cheese also has sparked some more nasty articles in our favourite national news rag (the Globe and Mail). Conveniently included is Mr. Reynolds e-mail so you can fire off a missive.

Entitled:

Sacred cows: Guess who's getting milked

NEIL REYNOLDS
nreynolds@xplornet.com

February 1, 2008

OTTAWA -- Except for nuclear power, Canada's dairy industry is perhaps the most intensely regulated industry in the country - and perhaps the most discreetly regulated, too. When the federal government quietly promulgated radical new restrictions on Canada's cheese makers in the Canada Gazette last month, it did so on Boxing Day.

At the heart of the new edict is a requirement that cheese contain a higher proportion of whole milk - as opposed to milk byproducts - a change that cheese makers say would increase the cost of production. In its commentary on these protectionist regulations, the government noted in passing that the dairy industry has been getting smaller, "with typically static or declining growth," for 15 years. The only significant exception, it observed, was cheese. From 307,000 tonnes in 1994 to 379,000 tonnes in 2005, Canadian cheese production has increased by almost 25 per cent -- most of it in the form of innovative "specialty" cheeses that give consumers the illusion of access to the cheeses of the world. read more...

If you want real information about cheese and the new regulations, check my post 'Campaign to Keep Cheese Real' and the Real Cheese website.

Oh, and don't forget to speak to Mr. Reynolds.